TWO FAMILIES SCARRED by tragedy and secrets collide in an intense thriller that crackles with intelligence. B PLUS

IN THE BLOOD
Touchstone
2014

THE RACE TO BUILD the first US subway. The eternal rivalry between Boston and New York. Entertaining history! B PLUS

THE RACE UNDERGROUND
St. Martin’s Press
2014

A MARVELOUS JOURNEY INTO HISTORY links an early map of China to 17th century contacts between East and West. B PLUS

MR. SELDEN’S MAP OF CHINA: DECODING THE SECRETS OF A VANISHED CARTOGRAPHER
Bloomsbury USA
2013

INSIDE THE SELF-HELP INDUSTRY, with a guide who combines research, immersion, wit, snark, and compassion. B PLUS

PROMISE LAND: MY JOURNEY THROUGH AMERICA’S SELF-HELP CULTURE
Simon and Schuster
2014

GORGEOUSLY WROUGHT HORROR, rooted in the bloody and corrupt past of Los Angeles. Terrifying and engrossing. B PLUS

MALEDICTION
Evil Jester Press
2013

A RUSSIAN EMIGREE SHARES the story of a mysterious summer with an unexpected confidant. Thoughtful, witty. B PLUS

THE SCENT OF PINE
Simon & Schuster
2014

A FASCINATING FOOTNOTE IN WWII history: the war-crimes indictment of “Asianist” philosopher Okawa Shumei. B PLUS

A CURIOUS MADNESS: AN AMERICAN COMBAT PSYCHIATRIST, A JAPANESE WAR CRIMES SUSPECT, AND AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY FROM WORLD WAR II
Scribner
2014

A BEAUTIFUL, DELICATE, ECCENTRIC Korean fable about love and belonging. Sweet but not cloying. B PLUS

THE HEN WHO DREAMED SHE COULD FLY
Penguin Books
2013

A SHY, QUIRKY WOMAN’S mostly entertaining reflections on how and why her 25 years have been free of romance. B PLUS

NEVER HAVE I EVER : MY LIFE (SO FAR) WITHOUT A DATE
Grand Central Publishing
2014

IN CELEBRATION OF TIME, English novelist Penelope Lively reflects on memory, antiquities, her own 80 years. B PLUS

DANCING FISH AND AMMONITES
Viking Adult
2014